Quick snapshots of the Albanian countryside from our drive to Buddva, Montenegro a few weeks ago. Hopefully they give you a small taste of what this country is really like.
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| This is how many Albanians buy their meat, these stands are set up all along the highway |
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There are hundreds of thousands of these bunkers all across Albania. Built by Hoxha to protect against a percieved threat of invasion from Italy
"It is said that when a prototype for the bunkers was presented to Hoxha, he demanded the architect to go inside of it. A tank was then ordered to open fire. The bunker withstood the shelling, the architect survived, and Hoxha gave the go ahead to build nearly a million replicas of the prototype all over the country."
(from http://www.vagabondjourney.com/travelogue/bunkers-in-albania/) |
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| A common sight here, even in the capital city. |
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| Colourful painted houses are everywhere |
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| So many unfinished structures |
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| We stopped for lunch at a restaurant/"zoo" |
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| I love chickens- wait, is this a chicken? |
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| No, seriously, they're amazing |
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| I actually cried when I saw the bear, though. |
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| I think this is a lynx, or a bobcat. I'm not sure what the difference is. |
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| I shared a moment with an owl. |
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| The toilets were not. A hole in the ground is not my idea of fun. |
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| At least the cats got to roam around free |
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| Albanians love birds. They have them in practically every store or restaurant I've been to here |
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| The remains of an old city wall |
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| Another common sight. |
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| I wonder what they were talking about |
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| One of the best things about Albania is that a Catholic church... |
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| ...and a mosque can coexist peacefully side by side in a tiny village. |
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| A great way to pass time at the border |
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| A breathtaking view |
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| Albania really does have so much natural beauty. |
